My Autobiography
It was a stormy blizzard-like night on the twenty-seventh of January in the year 1994. While in the terrible weather, a man and his wife drove through the hazardous roads, rushing to the nearest hospital. They were expecting their fourth baby, presumably a girl. After a long strenuous night in the hospital room, a woman gave birth to a beautiful baby girl at three in the morning. She decided to name her Marie Antoinette Stewart, after her mother-in-law. But, her real name is Marie Antionette Stewart because of the fathers misspelling of Antoinette. Fortunately, that was the only problem with her, she was as healthy as any other baby. The mother brought her newborn home just a few hours later. She came home to her two daughters and son, along with her husband. She presented to them the latest member of the family, she presented to them their new baby sister. That baby is me now, 15 years later.
Within months, I was beginning to crawl, and within a few more, I slowly began to walk. I was a healthy young toddler within years and my parents said I began to develop my own personality that was different from my siblings. My mom said that she was amazed of how well I kept myself busy. Normally with older siblings, the younger one always wants to do whatever the siblings are doing, but with me, that was not the case. While they would play on the swing set and play hide-and-go seek, I would quietly be playing in the sand, occupying myself. The thing that may have made a difference is the fact that they are all one year apart and I have a nine year difference with my oldest sister. Though, at that age, it did not matter to me. I grew up to be a healthy, normal child, until the devastating news my family and I had received at the age of eight.
One rainy and cold January day, I approached my father because my knee was aching. I told him it has been aching for a few weeks but that day was the most it has ever been. He sat me up on the table and examined my knees. He noticed that my left knee was warm to the touch and it was puffy and swollen, so like any other concerned parent, he and my mother took me to my pediatrician. When the doctor examined my knee, he told us he was not sure what it may be and that he does not specialize in particular diseases, so he sent us to the nearest suitable doctor in northern New Jersey. After the long travel, we arrived at the doctor's office and a nurse took me in to perform a regular check-up. She was testing the flexibility of my joints and then got to my left knee. When she bent it, it hurt so bad, it felt as if something in my knee was preventing it from bending. As she slowly bent it, she saw the tears in my eyes and then straightened out. After the nurses visit, we were then told to see the specialist.
As I was getting a check-up from the specialist, she told us that I needed to get a blood test to see if we can find out what was wrong with me, until the results she told me to hang-in there. A few days later, we were told to travel back up to the office to see her again. That was when we heard the news, she told me that I had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) in my left knee. She told us that is was a mild form of arthritis that some children get at a young age. She informed us all about JRA, that it is a treatable disease that could be healed but it is non curable. Luckily, they caught it early enough for any serious damage to be done. She told us about other cases of JRA that was much more serious and said that if I were not to be careful, it could become worse. My parents were scared and I was terrified, I was only eight.
Along with JRA, I had to take four pills a day. Also, the specialist sent us to an eye doctor that specialized in patients with diseases that could relate to eye problems. When we went there, the eye doctor informed us that with JRA, another disease in the eye may develop, it was called iritis. As she examined my eyes, she told us that I had iritis in my right eye. She then gave me drops in that eye. Since I was only eight, my eyes were very sensitive. I was crying when she put in the drops and she said that if I kept crying she would have to keep putting in the drops. So I finally stopped crying and she put in the drops. When it was over, I was so happy and I said to my dad, "Finally, I hope I never have to do that again!!" He looked at me sadly and told me that I were to put drops in my eyes four times a day. Again, I began to cry.
After much discussion on the ride home, my parents and I worked out a medicine schedule and then took me to the nearest toy store. They knew that I loved stuffed animals so they told me that I can pick out any stuffed animal that I wanted to. I was so sad, but a little stuffed animal was able to cheer me up. After the trip to the store, they took me to a diner to keep my mind off it. There I ordered my favorite meal, spaghetti and meatballs. I fell asleep on the car ride home and I woke up when we got home. My parents told my siblings what had happened and they felt bad for me. Especially since I would have to go to regular check-ups ever month for my eye and knee. My relatives also found out and they all tried to comfort me. It was great to know that i was supported by my family. Around the time I found out about my arthritis, that is when I found my best friend, Sapna.
During the summer, a new family had moved into the neighborhood, one house away from me. When I was walking around the neighborhood with my sister, I saw a girl standing on the driveway, she looked around the same age as me. My sister introduced herself to the girl. The girl said that her name was Sapna and that she was starting second grade. I introduced myself to her and told her that I too was starting second grade. During the summer, she introduced me to her family, she had a sister and a brother that were younger than her. She also told me that her parents were born in India and moved here. She told me that she was Hindi. Sapna and her siblings were outside everday with me, playing tag, hide-and-go seek, or basketball. At the end of the summer, when school began, we hoped that we would be in the same class, but we were not. Though, we were in the same class in third, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eight grade.
As we both grew up, we helped each other through rough times. We were both relatively smart and we continually challenged each other. Sapna and I were always together, especially since she lived only a house away. We always worked on projects together, or whenever one of us needed help with homework, we would help each other. Over the past seven years that we met, we developed a great friendship and declared each other as best friends. To this day, we are still the best of friends.
Around three years ago, my father had to go to the hospital for his leg. Since my dad was not very healthy, the doctor told him that he needed to get back in to shape so that he would not have to go to the hospital again. My oldest sister was talking to him about what activites that he should take up in. He told her that he used to play tennis when he was younger and that he would consider playing that to get back in shape again. A week later, we hit the tennis court. That very first day, I wanted to keep playing. Something about tennis just clicked in my head. I began to not only play it more often, but I began to watch it. I developed a crush on a player, Andy Roddick. I loved to watch tennis but when he was playing, I would stop everything just to watch him. I joined his fan club and began to talk to people all over the world about tennis. That is when I realized my dream.
After watching Andy loose in the US OPEN finals to the great Roger Federer, I told my dad that I really love tennis and that I want to become a professional tennis player. At first, he told me that it would be very difficult but if I really wanted to, he would support me. I searched online and found the nearest tennis league and called them right away. I played on a tennis league for the fall season and later the spring season. Over the summer I joined the Atlanic Club for lessons. I started improving, enough to start full match play. After another spring season with the tennis league, I began to enter into tournaments during the summer. After a few tough tournaments, I had finally won my first match. I even remember the date, September 29, 2008. Tennis started to become a serious part in my life.
During eighth grade, all I would talk about to my friends was tennis. I would watch every tournament I possibly could, and would even write the scores on the chalkboard. That same year, I began to appreciate a certain tennis player. His name is Roger Federer. Then, he was the number one player in the world, and was a dominant force on the tour. I admired him so much because of the way he handled himself on and off the court. On the court, he was so elegant in his movement, his smooth footwork and his fluid swings. Not only does he play so well, but he always has the right mindset. Whenever he misses a tough shot, he rarely shows his anger. Even when he hits unbelievable shots, he does not show his emotions. He always leaves his opponents guessing or wondering what he will do next. Roger's one-handed backhand was so fluid that it inspired me to change my game. As of now I play with a one-handed backhand. Not only does Roger play so well, he handles himself with great dignity and honor. He treats every opponent with the utmost respect, as well as his fans. Even though he lost in one of the most major tournaments in tennis to Rafael Nadal, he was still able to congratulate him and show him that he respects him. Roger is someone who I admire, respect, and who inspires me to play my best. Said my me, and most tennis greats, Roger is the greatest person to ever pick up a tennis racquet.
My father knew how much I appreciated Roger, and the game of tennis. So, on my fourteenth birthday, he surprised me with tickets to see him play against another tennis great, Pete Sampras, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The match date was March 10th and I eagerly kept waiting. On the 10th, my father picked me up from school so we could take a train to New York City, instead of driving. My oldest sister came with us and she was eager to see him as well. When we arrived there, we found our seats and I was as hyper as anything. I was so excited just to be in the same arena as him. Finally the moment came when he walked out of the locker room onto the court. I stood up for him and was shouting his name, i was thrilled! It was the first time I have ever seen him, not in a picture or in TV. When the match began I was quiet during every point until the point ended. I was so loud my dad swore that Roger could hear me. After the match was over we left the stadium and got back onto the train. I declared it the best day of my life, and it still is to this day.
Today I am still very passionate about tennis and Roger. This year, I made the varsity team for tennis. Though, incase an injury happens that could ruin my career, I make sure I get good grades and take challenging classes so I will have a back-up plan in my future. I am hoping to get a tennis scholarship at a four-year college. If I did, I not only would focus on tennis, but science as well. Biology is my favorite class of the day, besides gym and lunch. If I do not make it as a professional tennis player, I want to teach tennis or become a physical trainer because I love being active. I am only fifteen and there are still many oppurtunites in my life.
